Network Shrinkage

Farmers should just provide the basics on their CL's. A fresh water tap. Somewhere to empty the Elsan, An EHU and somewhere to dump Grey waste.---- That's all that is required. 

That is, apparently all that you require. Others may have slightly (or even greatly) different requirements

I suppose some CL close because they have over priced themselves and are not getting people on pitches. I know of a couple of CL's about 1.5 miles apart. this year one charges £17 for EHU, Shower and toilets while the other charges £16 for EHU and wifi, then about 4 miles up the road is a CL with hardstanding and EHU which charge £13, know which one I go to. 

Us too, cariadon. However those ones may have disappeared as CLs and become small commercial sites. We'll be using a couple, at least, of those type of sites during our next trip. However the ones we have booked so far are still no more than £15 pn.

I'd like to give a bit of perspective from the other side of the Post and Rail if I may..

If you are a farmer or smallholder with a spare bit of land and are looking for some additional income / visitors to your farm you have an increasing number of choices ahead of you.  Opening a CL is one choice but there are many others.

The growing trend at the moment is for 'Glamping'.  A Shepherds Hut or Glamping Pod can seem like a much more attractive option to many farmers as the return on investment (although initial investment is probably higher than a CL) can be recouped in 2 or 3 years.  Even the Club has leapt onto this bandwagon with their own glamping yurts and pods, as have a number of award-winning CL's.

Until members realise these facts - and stop expecting a farmer to be happy with £5/night - the decline in the network will continue as CL owners retire and the new generation seek a better return on their assets.

I know of a highly popular CL which charges over £20/night that will close next year.  The owners are now making a good return after significant investment. Occupancy is high and customer satisfaction is 5*  but the parents, who set up the CL, are retiring and the younger generation would prefer to have income from holiday lodges.

I have said this before, but the expectations of most members regarding pricing of CL's is unrealistic. 

If you want an exclusive place to stay in the countryside - with a limit of 5 vans - and you want the CL to be open for business next year and the year after,  then you need to expect to pay a realistic sum for it.

CholseyGrange

Interesting post that could explain why opening a CL, or keeping it open is now less attractive. There was a well known campsite in Oxfordshire that had been popular for years but the next generation decided to change the business model and it is no longer a campsite but a wedding venue with Glamping. 

For us, where we stay, is governed by where the place is rather than the cost. If its near a town/village or on a bus route we would consider that first rather than cost. Being a motorhomer I would prefer a site with hardstanding and EHU but don't need toilet and showers. 

David

I would also add that the club does very little to help CL's or the CL network, even new ones. 

Since opening 2 years ago we still have very low numbers and have reduced our fees and overheads this year. At present we make a signicant loss despite taking on advice from members and other CL owners within the network. We have made suggestions to the club how they may help and have even offered magazine articles to the club which have been ignored or declined.

Last week our CL listing was suspended due to our electric certificate being overdue. We appreciate that this is our responsibility, but we are new to this (the first time we needed it retesting), we are not open until April anyway (by which time it will be retested), and the clubs (now infamously) new issue riddled IT systems failed to post the three warning letters and one newsletter that would have warned us of this impending suspension. PLUS, we spoke to the club a week or so ago who checked and said that all was ok! We since spoke to them and they said given their lack of notifying us (as they didn't try to email or call either) that they would provide us a few weeks grace, but this has subsequently been ignored and via emails even the line manager's unwilling to budge on the matter.

With such an unhelpful attitude, little investment in encouraging the use of CLs, and no assistance for struggling/new CLs it is little wonder why so many are closing.

This year we've decided to just run the site how/when we want, at our lowest possible rate, but unless something significantly changes we too will most likely close next year.

Oly, I am sorry to hear that story. Operating  as a CL is clearly as restrictive for you as it is for would be visitors . Restrictions all round. 

I see that two other small sites near you in the Nantwich area are operating independently - one with 10 pitches and one with 15, no restrictions on who they can and cannot take, and no restrictive rules enforced by Club officials. I wonder how they are getting on? 

Our thoughts exactly. If we do carry on with the site outside the club that'll probably be the route we follow. Getting planning permission that will last forever will cost only slightly more than the admin fees the club requires on an annual basis! 

Our holiday cottage has been open independently for the same duration as the CL. In contrast to the CL it is a joy to run, good returns for much less effort/admin. Which makes me agree with Ted that a glamping arrangement may well work too (although I worry that that may have had its day too).

I can only sigh with exasperation at the ineptitude of this club. I personally wouldn't blame any CL owner for sticking two fingers up to the club. The club love to tout the CL as being their jewel in the crown. It should be but the club are letting that jewel slip away slowly, more in apathy than anything else. 

My heart goes out to CL owners that really want to stay with the club and have them work together only to meet negative attitudes. Thanks for your efforts one and all.

This club's CL losses are the other club's gains. I've spotted a few familiar ones with a different sign at the gate. 

The ability to take 5 vans and 10 tents helps as well although tent users would probably need WC and shower facilities.